Love Knows Not Time: An Outlander Tale Chapter 4]
How are you feeling now, Jeffrey? A little better, thank you. Oh, I will miss him, Catriona. I know. It's not easy to lose someone you love. Do you have any other family? No, no close family. That's too bad. But don't worry, you won't be alone as long as I'm around. Do you mean that, Catriona? Yes, I do, Jeffrey. I love you. I won't ever want to leave you. And I love you, Catriona. I don't know how I would have managed if you had not come, he said as he embraced her. Would you take a walk with me, Catriona? Yes, I'd love to. If you need to make yourself presentable, I'll wait outside. I'll join you in a moment. You look better, Jeffrey, Catriona remarked when she saw him a moment later. I certainly hope so, Catriona. I would not want my men to have seen me the way you found me an hour ago. And would that have been a bad thing? Oh, yes. It would have been quite a morale destroyer. Oh, I see what you mean. Let's walk here by the riverbank, shall we. Alright. It's lovely here, is it not? Yes, it certainly is. So, what do you see yourself doing after all this is over, Jeffrey? Well, there has been talk that after the trouble with the Jacobites is over, my regiment may be shipped to Ireland. And will you go with it, Jeffrey? If I am still in it, yes. And what about unmarried girls and women like me? Well, I won't lie to you, Catriona. If you want to stay with the regiment permanently, you must marry one of it's men. And that rule was created for your own safety. I know that. But this will not be over for several months yet, so you will have some time to think and plan what you will do. I will certainly think carefully. I hope you will not think me forward, but I have something to ask you. What is it, Jeffrey? If your father were here I would go to him, but as he is not I must ask your permission. May I court you, Catriona Allan? Yes, you may, Jeffrey Foster. There is nothing that would delight me more. And I know my parents would approve. I am glad you said yes, Catriona. So am I. Will you take supper with me again this evening? I would love to, Jeffrey. Speaking of that, we had best be getting back. My man will have it on the table by the time we arrive. And it was not long before they reached his quarters again. You were right, Jeffrey. He does have it on the table. Good evening, Major, sir. Good evening, Simmons. Good evening to you, miss. Thank you very much. And a pleasant evening to you as well.
Do sit down, Catriona. Thank you. This looks good. What is it? It looks to be one of the wild deer that frequent this part of Scotland. Whatever it is, it's delicious. Are there deer in abundance in America? In our area, yes. We come from the colony of North Carolina. It must be beautiful there. It is, Jeffrey. And as they talked, before they knew it, the evening was over. I was glad of your company tonight, Catriona. And I yours, Jeffrey. May I walk you to your quarters. You may. And thank you. I'm so glad you found us that day. As am I. Well, goodnight, Catriona. Rest well. You as well, Jeffrey. And Jeffrey, if you need me please don't hesitate to come to me. For anything. I want to help in any way I can. Thank you for that, Catriona. I certainly will come if I need your help. Goodnight. And Catriona decided that night that she could not go back to her own time. She loved Jeffrey and he loved her and needed her. And she would not leave him all alone. Sometime later she would have to tell him her secret and she hoped he would understand.